Apparatus for cutting compacted curd into pieces

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for cutting into pieces a block of curd that has been compacted in a perforated sleeve arranged in a vertically disposed casing, comprises a horizontal main frame adapted to be secured to the upper part of the casing, a horizontal knife blade supported for longitudinal reciprocating movement in the main frame, a secondary frame so positioned on the main frame that it will lie directly over the casing when the main frame has been secured to the latter, and a cutter bore mounted for upward and downward movement in the secondary frame and having an open base, the box containing vertical partitions which act as cutters and serve to divide the box into a plurality of compartments of a cross-sectional size corresponding to that of the pieces to be cut from the block.

[111 3,748,076 51 Jul 24,1973

[ APPARATUS FOR CUTTING COMPACTED CURD INTO PIECES Edmund Kcrran Whelan, Hawera, New Zealand [73] Assignee: The National Dairy Association of New Zealand Limited, Wellington [22] Filed: Jan. 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 215,779

[75] Inventor:

Harshberger et a1. 425/313 X 8/1967 Smith 83/l7l X 5/1970 Dye 83/620 X Primary Examiner-Robert L. Spicer, Jr. Attorney-Eric I-I. Waters et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for cutting into pieces a block of curd that has been compacted in a perforated sleeve arranged in a vertically disposed casing, comprises a horizontal main frame adapted to be secured to the upper part of the casing, a horizontal knife blade supported for longitudinal reciprocating movement in the main frame, a secondary frame so positioned on the main frame that it will lie directly over the casing when the main frame has been secured to the latter, and a cutter bore mounted for upward and downward movement in the secondary frame and having an open base, the box containing vertical partitions which act as cutters and serve to divide the box into a plurality of compartments of a cross-sectional size corresponding to that of the pieces to be cut from the block.

9'Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented July 24, I973 49 fllllflllllil 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WNW 1 APPARATUS FOR CUTTING COMPACTED CURD INTO PIECES The invention relates to apparatus for cutting a compacted block of curd into pieces to form individual unwrapped cheeses or cheese portions, such cutting apparatus being adapted for application to compacting apparatus wherein the block of curd has been compacted within a perforated sleeve contained in a vertically disposed casing and means are provided for expelling the compacted block step-by-step from the upper end of the sleeve and casing. Compacting apparatus answering these last-mentioned requirements forms the subject of our co-pending United States patent application Ser. No. 215,778 filed Jan. 6, 1972.

In the specification of the said co-pending application there is described and claimed apparatus for compacting curd in the process of manufacturing cheese, the apparatus comprising a perforated metal sleeve adapted to receive a mass of curd, a metal casing surrounding the sleeve in such manner that a. jacketed space is formed between the two, a lid or cover plate for closing one end of the casing, means for holding the lid or cover plate removably in closed position, a piston slidably engaged in the sleeve, means for moving the piston towards and away from the lid or cover plate when applied, and means enabling the jacketed space between the sleeve and casing to be placed in communication with a source of vacuum, the sleeve being of four sided prismatic shape and of such capacity that when a mass of curd has been placed therein and has been vacummized through the jacketed space and the perforations in the sleeve and has also been compressed by the piston, there will be formed a compacted block of curd of such large size that when freed, or while being freed, from the sleeve, it can be cut into a plurality of pieces which are either of a size comparable with or corresponding to that of unwrapped cheeses .of standard size, or are sufficiently small to constitute individual consumer portions.

' For. the purpose of applying the present invention, the apparatus of the co-pending application is so arranged that the perforated sleeve and metal casing extend vertically, the end of the casing that is'adapted to be closed by the lidor cover plate being at the top and the piston-being arranged in-the lower part of the sleeve and being operable from beneath. For convenience in describing the present invention, the apparatus of the co-pending application will be referred to hereinafter simply as the compactor.

The cutting apparatus of the present invention comprises a horizontally extending main frame adapted to be removably secured to the upper end part of the easing of the compactor after a compacted block of curd has been formed in thev perforated sleeve and the lid or cover plate has been removed from the upper end of the casing, a horizontally disposed knife blade supported'for longitudinal reciprocating movement on the main frame, means for moving the knife blade first in one direction along the main frame so that it will pass across the upper end of the casing of the compactor compactor when the main frame has been applied thereto, a horizontally disposed cutter box mounted for upward and downward movement in the secondary frame and having an open base, the box including side walls so arranged that the cross-sectional size and shape of the interior of the box conforms to the crosssectional size and shape of the interior of the sleeve of the compactor, or substantially so, and also including vertical partitions the lower edges of which act as cutting edges and which serve to divide the box into a plurality of compartments each of a cross-sectional size corresponding to that of an unwrapped cheese or of an individual portion of cheese, and means for raising and lowering the box in the secondary frame.

An embodiment of the cutting apparatus of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, this embodiment being designed for use in combination with the particular form of compactor disclosed in the specification of the co-pending application, wherein the perforated sleeve has the cross-sectional dimensionsand capacity factors mentioned in that specification. In this case, the cutting apparatus is so constructed as to enable the compacted block of curd to be divided into a group of four pieces in the cross-section, each piece being of the standard size of an unwrapped cheese, and also into several succeeding groups of pieces with four pieces in each group. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the cutting apparatus of the present invention; I

FIG. 2 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 1, some parts being broken away'to more clearly illustrate other parts;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cutting apparatus to an enlarged scale, some parts being shown in section;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line IV IV in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 also illustrating part of the compactor; I

FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view of the cutter box, the section being taken along the line V V inFIG 4;

FIG. 6 (sheet 2) is a fragmentary sectional plan view illustrating certain details to a further enlarged scale;

FIG. 7 (sheet 1) is a fragmentary cross-sectional view to a still further enlarged scale, the section being taken on the line VII VII in FIG. 3 and also illustrating part of the compactor;

FIG. 8 (sheetl) is a fragmentary cross-sectional view to the same scale as FIG. 7, the section being taken on the line VIII VIII in FIG. 3 and again illustrating part of the compactor; and

FIG. 9 is a front end view. of part of the apparatus, illustrating certain details, the view being drawn to the same scale as FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

For simplicity, the parts of the compactor shown in FIGS. 4, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings bear the same reference numerals as thoseused to described the compactor illustrated in the drawings forming part of the specification of the co-pending application, the casing of the compactor being indicated at 9, the flange at the top thereof at 15, the gasket in the flange at 19, the lugs under the flange at 17, one of the G-clamps that are pivoted to the lugs 17 and were previously used to hold the lid of the compactor in place, being indicated at 16 in FIG. 4, while the perforated sleeve of four-sided prismatic shape is indicated at 21 and its perforations and nodules at 22 ,and 23 respectively (FIGS. 7 and 8). Prior to the loading of the compactor with curd for subsequent vacuumization and compression to form the compact block, a thin perforated plastic or stainless steel liner is fitted inside the perforated sleeve 21, but this accessory is not shown in the present drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated, the cutting apparatus of the present invention comprises a horizontally extending rectangular main frame generally indicated at 41. This frame is made up of two longitudinally disposed metal side members 42 spaced parallelly from each other and of inverted channel-shape in crosssection, a transverse member 43 also of metal and of inverted channel-shape in cross-section, this member extending between and being joined to one end of the side members 42 to thereby form the front end of the frame, and a transverse flat metal bar 44 extending between and joined to the lower parts of the opposite ends of the sidemembers to thereby form the rear end of the frame.

For a purpose to be described the lower edge portions of the outer flanges of the side members 42 of the main frame 41 are inclined outwardly and downwardly to form outwardly protruding lips 45 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 8), these lips extending along the forward end part of the main frame. A similar lip 46 (FIGS. 1, 4 and 7), is formed along the lower edge portion of the outer flange of the transverse member 43. Also for a purpose to be described, metal pads 47 (FIG. 8) are secured along the outer edges of the side parts of the flange at the upper end of the casing 9 of the compactor, while a similar pad 48 (FIGS. 4 and 7) is secured along the outer edge of the front part of the flange 15.

A lead screw 49 is provided within and extends along each of the side members 42 of the main frame 41, the two lead screws being journalled for rotation in antifriction bearings 50 engaged around the end portion of the screws and secured to end part of the main frame.

A forwardly projecting bracket 51 is secured to the transverse member 43 of the main frame 41, the bracketbeing arranged in longitudinal alignment with one of the lead screws 49. A platform 52 is arranged over the bracket 51 and upon the platform there is mounted a reversible electric motor 53. The platform 52 is connected by one of its side edges to the bracket 51 by means of hinges 54 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4), the platform thus being mounted for upward and downward rockingmovement relatively to the bracket with a consequent raising or lowering of the motor 53. In the opposite side edge portion of the platform 52 there are formed slots through which upstanding screw-threaded studs 55 pass, the lower ends of the studs being pivotally connected to lugs 56 on the bracket 51, while their upper end portions are fitted with nuts 57 bearing against the upper and lower faces of the platform. The purpose of this arrangement will be explained as the description proceeds.

The shaft of the motor 53 is fitted with a sprocket over which an endless driving chain 58 is engaged, the chain also being engaged under a sprocket keyed to an end portion of that one of the two lead screws 49 that lies in alignment with the bracket 51. Thus, when the motor is running, it will act, through the sprockets and chain 58, to drive the lead screw in question.

By loosening the nuts 57 on the studs 55, the platform 52 can be rocked downwardly with a consequent lowering of the motor 53 to thereby facilitate engagement of the driving chain 58 with its sprockets. When this has been done, the nuts 57 can be adjusted so that the motor 53 on the platform will be brought to a position in elevation in which the driving chain is maintained at correct tension, the nuts 57 then being tightened up again.

Of the two lead screws 49, the one that extends along the side of the main frame 41 that is remote from the motor 53 is adapted to be driven in the same direction and at the same speed as the other lead screw. For this purpose, the forward end portion of the lead screw that is driven by the chain 58 from the motor 53 is fitted with a second sprocket 59 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 7) while the corresponding end portion of the other lead screw is fitted with a like sprocket 60 (FIG. 3), the two sprockets 59 and 60 being connected together by an endless driving chain 61. It will be seen that, by this arrangement, rotation of one of the two lead screws 49 by the chain 58 from the motor 53, will result in simultaneous.

and corresponding rotation of the other lead screw. Means (not shown) may be provided for taking up any undue slackness that may develop in the driving chain 61.

The main frame 41 accommodates a combined knife blade and transport plate 62 (hereinafter referred to simply as the knife blade). The knife blade is of rectangular shape in plan and arranged horizontally, its side edges being parallel to the side members 42 of the main frame, while its length and width are a little greater than the cross-sectional dimensions of the inner surface of the sleeve 21 of the compactor. The forward edge of the knife blade is sharpened as indicated at 63 in FIGS. 4 and 7. On the upper surface of the four comer portions of the knife blade 62 there are secured nut parts 64 which are engaged around the screw threads on the lead screws 49, the knife blade thus being connected to the lead screws and there being two nut parts for each screw. With this arrangement, the knife blade 62 becomes mounted for reciprocating movement along the main frame 41, the motor 53 acting, through the driving connections and the lead screws 49 and nut'parts 64, to move the knife blade either forwardly or rearwardly according to the direction in which the motor is rotating at a particular time. The knife blade is arranged in a plane lying a little above the lower edges of the side members 42 of the main frame 41, and to prevent the knife blade from imposing an undue load on the lead screws 49, the nut parts 64 are, as indicated in FIG. 8, provided on both sides with inset and grooved guide members 65 which are slidably engaged with keys 66 secured to and extending along the inside faces of the side flanges of the side members 42 of the main frame 41. When the knife blade 62 approaches and lies within the rear end portion of the main frame it becomes additionally supported upon a series of rollers 67 which extend across this portion of the frame and are journalled for rotation in bearing holes in the side flanges of the side members 42 of the frame.

The cutting apparatus includes a secondary frame generally indicated at 68 in FIGS. 1 to 4, this frame being of openwork form and so positioned as to straddle the forward end portion of the main frame 41. The secondary frame 68 includes four corner legs 69 extending vertically upwards from foot plates 70 which are secured to the top faces of the side members 41 of the main frame, thereby providing a front pair of legs and arear pair of legs. The secondary frame also includes two transversely disposed bridge members 71 which extend betweenand are joined to the upper ends of the front and rear pairs of legs 69. The secondary frame further includes a tie member 72 which extends in the direction of the length of the main frame and is joined at its ends to the bridge members 71, the tie member being arranged in coincidence with the longitudinal centre line of the main frame so that it lies centrally between the upper ends of the legs 69 at one side of the secondary frame and the upper ends of the legs at the opposite side of this frame.

The secondary frame contains a horizontally disposed cutter box generally indicated at 73 in FIGS. 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8. This box is of four sided prismatic form and includes a horizontal top plate 74 and four depending side walls 75, of equal depth, of which two extend in the direction of the length of the main frame 41, while the remaining two extend transversely to that frame. The cross-sectional dimensions of the interior of the cutter box 73 is the same as the cross-sectional dimensions of the interior of the sleeve 21 of the compactor, or a fraction greater, while the depth of the box measured from the underface of the top plate 74 to the lower edges of the side walls 75 is greater than the depth of an unwrapped cheese of standard size. The top plate 74 is formed with four upstanding ribs 76 which extend in the direction of the length of the main frame 41 and are symmetrically disposed with respect to the longitudinal centre line of the main frame, the ribs acting to reinforce the top plate.

The interior of the cutter box 73 contains two vertical partitions 77 which are joined to the cover plate 74 and side walls 75 and are arranged at right-angles to each other so that they cross one another when viewed in plan, the partitions being otherwise so disposed that, in conjunction with the top plate 74 and sidewalls 75, they act to divide the interior of the box into four separate compartments which are of equal size and are open at the bottom, the cross-sectional dimensions of each compartment corresponding to the crosssectional dimensions of astandard unwrapped cheese. The lower edges of the partitions 77 terminate in line with the lower edges of the side walls 75 of the cutter box, and are sharpened to form cutting edges as indicated at 78 in FIG. 4. Each of the four compartments in the cutter box 73 contains ahorizontally disposed backing plate 79 (FIGS. 4 and 5) which fits closely in the compartment but has sufficient working clearance to enable it to move upwardly and downwardly in the compartment. To about the centre of each of the backing plates 79 there is secured a screw-threaded stud 80 which passes upwardly through a clearance hole in the top plate 74 of the cutter box 73, the part of the stud lying above the top plate being fitted with a finger-nut 81, which bears on the upper surface of this plate. With this arrangement, when the finger-nuts 81 are turned in one direction, the backing plates 79 will be free to move or be pushed downwardly in their respective compartments, while when the finger-nuts are turned in the opposite direction the studs 80 will be drawin upwardly, thus raising the backing plates in the compartments. In association with each one of the backing plates 79 there are provided four abutment screws 82 which pass vertically throughscrew threaded holes in the upper edges of the sociated compartment that lies above the corresponding backing plate. The four abutment screws 82 associated with each backing plate 79 are distributed symmetrically around the corresponding stud and their lower ends are provided with pads 83 (FIGS. 4 and 5) which normally bear on the upper surface of the backing plate, while the parts of the screws that project above the rib 76 through which they pass are fitted with nuts 84 which normally bear on the upper face of the rib.

It will be seen that with the arrangement just described, the finger-nuts 81 and their studs 80 can be used for raising or lowering the backing plates 79 in the compartments of the cutter box 73 and preventing these plates from descending below the position to which they have been adjusted while the abutment screws 82 with their pads 83 and nuts 84 can be used to prevent the backing plates from moving upwardly from their position of adjustment by pressure from below.

The cutterbox 73, with its fittings, is mounted for vertical upward and downward movement in the secondary frame 68, being guided during such movement by means of vertical keyway members 85 (FIGS. 3 and 6) which are secured to the two side walls 75 of the box that extend longitudinally, and which are slidably engaged with vertical keys 86 secured to the corner posts 69 of the secondary frame. For raising and lower the cutter box there is provided a vertically disposed air ram the cylinder 87 (FIGS. 1 to 4) of which is mounted on the tie member 72 if the secondary frame 68 while the piston rod 88 of the ram projects downwardly from the cylinder and is secured at its lower end to the top plate 74 of the cutter box. I

To the outerfaces of the front and rear walls 75 of the cutter box 73 there are secured landing blocks 89, there being four such blocks in all, with two on each of the said walls, and the blocks being so arranged that they are positioned symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal centre line of the cutter box. For a purpose to be described and as best shown in FIG. 9, the upper surfaces of the landing blocks 89 have two' levels,

I namely, a lower level and a higher level.

adjacent to the upper faces of the landing blocks 89.

The connections between the finger-members 90 and their lugs 91 is such that the finger-members are not only free to have a limited amount of lateral movement applied to them as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 9, but they can also be swung away from the secondary frame 68 and then upwardly as indicated by the arcuate arrows in FIG. 4 to thereby bring them from their suspended positions to positions in which they will lie over the top of the secondary frame. Each finger-member 90 is made in two parts connected together by screwthreads, thereby enabling the member to be adjusted for effective length.

ribs 76 on the top plate 74 of the cutter box 73 so that their upper end portions extend above the ribs while their lower end portions project into the part of the as- To the tie member 72 of the secondary frame 68 there is secured a hook or eye 92 which enables the cutting apparatus to be moved into and out of operative position by means of overhead tackle.

Assuming that the mass of curd in the compactor has been vacuum pressed to the requisite extent and the lid of the compactor has been removed preparatory to subsequent ejection of the compacted block of curd from the perforated sleeve 21 by means of a piston 100 and ram of the ejector, all as described in the specification of the co-pending application, the cutting apparatus of the present invention is used as follows:

' Before any ejection of the compacted block of curd, the cutting apparatus is placed in a position in which its forward end part lies over the upper end of the compactor. In this position, the lips 45 and 46 on the forward end'part of the main frame 41 of the cutting apparatus become seated on the pads 47 and 48 on the upper end part of the compactor, while the cutter box 73 comes into exact vertical alignment with the sleeve 21 of the compactor. To hold the cutting apparatus in the position just described, the G-clamps 16 which were previously used to hold the lid of the compactor in place and have now assumed a lowered position consequent upon removal of the lid, are now swung upwardly and their screws manipulated to cause the lips 45 and 46 to become pressed firmly down on the pads 47 and 48 as shown more particularly in FIG. 4.

Prior to application of the cutting apparatus to the compactor in the manner just described, the studs 80 and finger-nuts 81 as well as the abutment screws 82 and their nuts 84, are, if necessary, manipulated so that the backing plates 79 are adjusted to a position in which their underfaces lie at the desired distance above the lower edges of the walls 75 of the cutter box 73, this distance representing the particular depth of the individual cheeses to be formed from the block of curd.

With the cutting apparatus in position on the compactor, the motor 53 is used to cause the lead screws 49 and nut parts 64 to bring the knife blade 62 to a position in which it lies in the rear end part of the main frame 41, if it is not already in that position. The main frame is of such length that when the knife blade 62 is in its most rearward position, it will lie completely clear of the cutter box 73 and thus of the open upper end of the sleeve 21 of the compactor, while when the knife blade is in its most forward position it will completely cover the bottom of the cutter box and thus lie fully over the upper end of the sleeve 21. The position in elevation of the knife blade 62 with respect to the depth of the main frame 41 is such that, with the cutting apparatus already secured to the compactor, the blade will lie in a planein which its underface is inhorizontal alignment with the upper end of the sleeve 21 of the compactor or a fraction above that end, thus permitting the blade to travel across and close to the upper end of the sleeve without fouling the latter.,

While the knife blade 62 is in its rearmost position the ram 87/88 is operated so as to lower the cutter box 73 to a position in which the bottom edges of its side walls 75 come into engagement with the upper end of the sleeve 21' of the compactor, the box then forming, in effect, an upward continuation of the sleeve. The finger-members 90 are now manipulated to cause their lower ends to engage with the upper levels of the landing blocks 89, the finger-members and blocks thus acting to lock the cutter box against any uwpard movement due to upward thrust from below.

With the parts in the position described above, the piston in the sleeve 21 of the compactor is moved upwardly to thereby cause upward movement of the block of compacted curd, the result being that the upper end portion of the block will enter the cutter box 73 of the cutting apparatus and, while so doing, will be divided by the partitions 77 into four pieces which will become accommodated in the four compartments contained within the box. When the parts of the compartments lying below the backing plates 79 have become completely filled from the block of compacted curd, upward movement of the compactor piston is brought to an end. As the next step, the finger-members 90 are manipulated to cause their lower ends to come opposite the lower levels of the landing blocks 89, the ram 87/88 is operated to cause upward movement of the cutter box to such an extent that the lower levels of the landing blocks come into contact with the lower ends of the finger-members, upward movement of the cutter box then ceasing. In this position of the cutter box, the bottom edges of the walls and partitions 77 thereof lie just above the plane in which the upper surface of the knife blade 62 lies, thus permitting the knife to pass beneath the box.

The motor 53 is now operated in a direction causing the lead screws 49 and nut parts 64 to move the knife blade 62 forwardly, the result being that the blade passes, by its cutting edge 63, into the block of curd, this movement continuing until the blade has reached its foremost position by which time it will have acted to completely sever the parts of the block that have entered the compartments in the cutter box from the remaining part which, for the time being, remains in the sleeve 21 of the compactor.

For the next step, the finger-members are swung outwardly and upwardly so that they are moved out of contact with the landing blocks 89 and are placed out of the way. The ram 87/88 is now operated to raise the cutter box 73 to a limited extent, a short pause then being introduced. This gives the pieces of compressed curd that lie in the compartments of the cutter box and.

have become individual cheeses, time to free themselves by gravity from the walls 75, partitions 77 and backing plates 79 of the box and fall gently onto the part of the knife blade 62 that lies directly under the box.

When the cheeses have dropped onto knife blade, the ram 87l 88is operated to further raise the cutter box 73, this upward movement being continued until the box becomes completely clear of the cheeses, whereupon the box is'retained in its fully elevated position.

Finally, the motor is operated in a direction causing it, through the lead screws 49 and nut parts 64, to move the knife blade 62 rearwardly, the blade then acting to move the cheeses from beneath the cutter box and transport them to the rear end part of the main frame 41 from which they can be removed. The knife blade then lies clear of the cutter box and is at the same time restored to its initial position, making the apparatus ready for operation on the next portion of the compacted block of curd after the necessary adjustments have been made to the cutter box as already described.

The apparatus may include micro-switches and other control accessories to ensure that the mechanically driven parts of the apparatus will operate in correct sequence and for the necessary duration of time to produce the desired results.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for cutting a compacted block of curd into pieces to form individual unwrapped cheeses or cheese portions, said cutting apparatus being adapted for application to compacting apparatus wherein the block of curd has been compacted within a perforated sleeve contained in a vertically disposed casing and means are provided for expelling the compacted block step-by-step from the upper end of the sleeve and casing, said cutting apparatus comprising a horizontally extending main frame adapted to be removably secured to the upper end partof the casing of the compactor, a horizontally disposed knife blade supported for longitudinal reciprocating movement on the main frame, means for moving the knife blade first in one direction along the main frame so that it will pass across the upper end of the casing of the compactor when the cutting apparatus has been applied thereto, and then in the opposite direction so that it will then he clear of the upper end of the perforated sleeve, a secondary frame of openwork form mounted on and secured to the main frame, the secondary frame being so positioned that it will lie directly over the casing of the compactor when the main frame has been applied thereto, a horizontally disposed cutter box mounted for upward and downward movement in the secondary frame and having an open base, the box including side walls so arranged that the cross-sectionalsize and shape of the interior of the box conforms to the cross-sectional size and shape of the interior of the sleeve of the compactor, or substantially so, and also including vertical partitions the lower edges of which act as cutting edges and which serve to divide the box into a plurality of compartments each of a cross-sectional size corresponding to that of an unwrapped cheese or of an individual portion of cheese, and means for raising and lowering the box in the secondary frame.

2. Cutting apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and wherein the main frame comprises longitudinal side members joined by transverse end members, there being provided rotatable lead screws which extend along the side members and with which there are engaged nut parts secured to the knife blade.

3. Cutting apparatus in accordance with claim 2 and wherein the main frame supports a reversible electric motor adapted to rotate the lead screws uniformly in either direction to thereby cause the nut parts to move the knife blade in either direction along the main frame.

4. Cutting apparatus according to claim 2 and wherein the secondary frame is arranged over one end part of the main frame, while the other end part of the main frame is provided with transversely disposed rollers which act to support the knife blade from beneath when the blade approaches and reaches the secondmentioned end part of the main frame.

5. Cutting apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and wherein the compartments of the cutter box contain horizontally disposed backing plates which are movable upwardly and downwardly in the compartments, means being provided for holding the backing plates in a selected position of elevation in the compartments.

6. Cutting apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and wherein a ram is provided for raising and lowering the cutter box in the secondary frame.

7. Cutting apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and wherein the cutter box is provided with landing blocks having surfaces providing upper and lower levels, and the secondary frame is provided with normally depending finger members which can be so positioned that their lower ends will engage with the upper or lower level surfaces of the landing blocks, at choice.

8. Cutting apparatus in accordance with claim 7 and wherein the finger-members are so connected to the secondary frame that they can also be moved entirely out of the way of the landing blocks.

9. Cutting apparatus in accordance with claim 7 and wherein the finger-members are adjustable for effective length. 

1. Apparatus for cutting a compacted block of curd into pieces to form individual unwrapped cheeses or cheese portions, said cutting apparatus being adapted for application to compacting apparatus wherein the block of curd has been compacted within a perforated sleeve contained in a vertically disposed casing and means are provided for expelling the compacted block step-bystep from the upper end of the sleeve and casing, said cutting apparatus comprising a horizontally extending main frame adapted to be removably secured to the upper end part of the casing of the compactor, a horizontally disposed knife blade supported for longitudinal reciprocating movement on the main frame, means for moving the knife blade first in one direction along the main frame so that it will pass across the upper end of the casing of the compactor when the cutting apparatus has been applied thereto, and then in the opposite direction so that it will then lie clear of the upper end of the perforated sleeve, a secondary frame of openwork form mounted on and secured to the main frame, the secondary frame being so positioned that it will lie directly over the casing of the compactor when the main frame has been applied thereto, a horizontally disposed cutter box mounted for upward and downward movement in the secondary frame and having an open base, the box including side walls so arranged that the cross-sectional size and shape of the interior of the box conforms to the cross-sectional size and shape of the interior of the sleeve of the compactor, or substantially so, and also including vertical partitions the lower edges of which act as cutting edges and which serve to divide the box into a plurality of compartments each of a cross-sectional size corresponding to that of an unwrapped cheese or of an individual portion of cheese, and means for raising and lowering the box in the secondary frame.
 2. Cutting apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and wherein the main frame comprises longitudinal side members joined by transverse end members, there being provided rotatable lead screws which extend along the side members and with which there are engaged nut parts secured to the knife blade.
 3. Cutting apparatus in accordance with claim 2 and wherein the main frame supports a reversible electric motor adapted to rotate the lead screws uniformly in either direction to thereby cause the nut parts to move the kniFe blade in either direction along the main frame.
 4. Cutting apparatus according to claim 2 and wherein the secondary frame is arranged over one end part of the main frame, while the other end part of the main frame is provided with transversely disposed rollers which act to support the knife blade from beneath when the blade approaches and reaches the second-mentioned end part of the main frame.
 5. Cutting apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and wherein the compartments of the cutter box contain horizontally disposed backing plates which are movable upwardly and downwardly in the compartments, means being provided for holding the backing plates in a selected position of elevation in the compartments.
 6. Cutting apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and wherein a ram is provided for raising and lowering the cutter box in the secondary frame.
 7. Cutting apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and wherein the cutter box is provided with landing blocks having surfaces providing upper and lower levels, and the secondary frame is provided with normally depending finger members which can be so positioned that their lower ends will engage with the upper or lower level surfaces of the landing blocks, at choice.
 8. Cutting apparatus in accordance with claim 7 and wherein the finger-members are so connected to the secondary frame that they can also be moved entirely out of the way of the landing blocks.
 9. Cutting apparatus in accordance with claim 7 and wherein the finger-members are adjustable for effective length. 